Family struggles with death of woman, 19, in car crash

By Barbara Boyer, Inquirer Staff Writer

Samantha Lucas could draw horses so real that it appeared they would run off the paper, said her grandmother Gloria Lucas.

The young woman's life came to a sudden end Tuesday when Lucas, 19, of Southampton, lost control of her black Chevrolet Cavalier and it hit a school bus on a slick road in Lumberton.

On Wednesday, Rodney and Cynthia Lucas made funeral arrangements for their only child. The father described his daughter as someone who was quick to defend others, and had a bubbly personality, a passion for art, and a love of tattoos.

Lumberton Police Lt. Edward Begolly said the accident remained under investigation.

About 5 p.m., Lucas was driving south on Eayrestown Road on an S-curve between Landing Street and Bridge Road, officials said. Police told the family that the car skidded and was T-boned by the bus in the northbound lane, Gloria Lucas said.

Lucas was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital, where she later was pronounced dead.

The bus, driven by Damir Marjanovic, 49, of Westampton, and carrying an aide, were treated at Virtua Memorial in Mount Holly, police said. No students were in the bus.

Police are asking anyone who may have information about the accident to call Lumberton Police at 609-267-1111 or 609-267-8300.

Lucas said her granddaughter was on her way to work at Whole Foods in Marlton, where she was a cashier.

"Everyone here at Whole Foods is so sad and so shocked. She had a lot of friends among the staff and customers," said Whole Foods team leader Jon Glyn. "Everyone here already misses her."

After graduating from Seneca High School in 2011, Lucas wanted to design tattoos, her father said. She was an apprentice at Tru Blu Tatu in Bristol, where she spent her spare time. When she turned 18, she sketched the paw of a wolf and had Tru Blu ink it on her stomach.

"She knew what she wanted to do, and she worked hard to do it," her father said, noting that as a child, his daughter preferred drawing to playing. "She spent as much time as she could at the tattoo shop."

She had enough training to start tattooing others and was considering purchasing her own equipment. Recently, she tattooed Mickey Mouse on her mother, Rodney Lucas said.

Her grandmother recalled how Lucas first drew a carousel horse when she was about 7, and another time drew her hand in such detail that "you would swear it was real."

Lucas lived "day by day," her grandmother said, describing how she would color her light brown hair purple if the mood struck.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 17, and 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, March 18, with a service to follow, at Perinchief Chapels, 438 High St., Mount Holly.